The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1887-03-17
THE LAST WORDS SPOKEN.
Impressive Memorial Services Orer the Re-
mains of Henry Ward Beecher.

Impressive Memorial Services Orer the Re-
mains of Henry Ward Beechcr.
New York dispatch: All Brooklyn wasi in
mourning to-day over the death OF Henry
| Ward Beecher. Public Offices were closed
business entirely suspended and. memorial
services were held in II large number Of
churches. The vicinity of Plymouth church
was crowded. Members OF Company G.,
Thirteenth regiment, of which Beecler was
chaplain, were stationed at the doors OF
the church, and no one was allowed to en-
ter without a ticket. While the vast crowd
OF people gathered outside Of the church,
the lady members OF the congregation were
working within. The whole interior was
turned into a flower garden, and a fragrant
perfume OF roses pervaded the air.
The facade OF the gallery was covered
with ported plants. The pulpit was loaded
with flowers and floral emblems sent by
friends and different organizations. The
casket was placed on a catafalque OF white
roses and white carnations and white
smilaX. and directly in front OF the reading
desk. Not IL vestige OF the black covering OF
the casket could be Seen. There was moth
ing to indicate the presence OF death except
the stiffness which prevailed the room and
the hushed conversation OF the mourners.
1t was nearly 10 o'clock when the doors
| were thrown open, and those who had been
waiting without for nearly three hours
| allowed to enter. In the first four seats
to the right OF the centre aisle, pews were
reserved for the relatives OF the deceased.
! Mr.. Beecher's family was not present and
the family pew was filed with flowers. Mrs.
B echer was in church IL few minutes before
the doors were opened, but left with her
sons before the crowd entered.
Before the pews reserved for the family
were seated the officers OF the Thirteenth
| regiment, and then came Members OF the
|. Legislative committee. Behind these were
delegates from nearly every social, poll
| teal and religious organization in New
York or Brooklyn. There was also q dele
| cation of the Colored Minister'S associa-
ton present.
| AT 1870 the Rev. DIR. Hall, accompanied
by the Rev. s.. b. Halliday, commenced to
read the opening services OF the Protestant
| Episcopal burial service, which was fol-
lowed by instrumental and vocal music.
| After the conclusion OF the Grafton by DR..
| Hall the public was admitted to view the
body. The line OF people waiting to view
the remains was nearly a quarter OF a mile
long. 1t is estimated that fully $4,000
people attended the services in the various
churches. and fully twice that number were
| gathered in the street in the neighborhood
of Plymouth church.
Those in charge had intended to close
the doors of the church at 3 p. M, but
when the appointed hour arrived the crowd
was so dense that it was decided to give an
hour of grace. The line, commencing at
the casket inside the church, extended
down Orange street to Henry. down Henry
L fn Fnltnn n vapTIa ond fbapcp around the
corner, where it terminated in an irregular
group, which was beyond the pale of police
supervision. The eagerness of the people
to get a favorable position in line, led to q
number of mild scuffies with the police.
Strange as it may seem. the blue coats had
the most trouble with the ~gentler sex;
| more than one lady would plead with eager
| earnestness to be allowed to stand in the
line near the church in order to save the
long wait necessitated by going down to
Fulton avenue. The younger ladies, espe-
cially, proved themselves superior to police
authority by insisting upon penetrating
the lines and calmly ignoring the dismayed
policemen who were too gallant to arrest
| the fair interlopers, and were powerless to
keep them out by orders and protesta-
tons.
The scenes of Thursday were steadily re-
| produced throughout the whole a t%ernOOn.
lHtTc was SOiuS ucteI IlilidUiDi oi 'ti ohhVo
to catch a view OF the body and the same
solemn good order. The line flowed stead
lily into the church, dividing at the coffin,
until a few minutes after 4, when the doors
| were shut until the children'of the Sunday
school could be gotten in order. When the
little ones had formed by columns of two,
they were marched in and past the bier,
and by their bright clothing and quiet awe
gave another phase to the scene of solemn
ity in the dusky interior. The children
seemed each to have a personal attach
ment for the dead pastor, and more than
one youthful pair OF eyes was batled in
tears at the first glimpse OF the peaceful
face in the coffin.
After the children, numbering 5000 CT
more, had passed, there vas another influx
of people which continued for several
hours.
Business was generally suspended. Nearly
all the stores were closed from 10 to II,
and a trip through Fulton street, the main
t~horoughfare, made one think OF Sunday.
The day was very generally observed by the
people OF Brooklyn as a day of mourning.